girls, and in spite of her courage, sighed as she turned away.

Those were the sisters for whom the coach and four waited, with the
footman and outriders, and who would be made welcome at all the grand
functions of life, while the Cinderellas were relegated to the chimney
corner. And the godmother must come out of fairy land, if she came at
all, and transformed one with a wand. That was why the glories were so
unsubstantial, and why the dream must end at midnight.

The babies were clamoring for supper. The house was all alone. She
lifted them out and helped them up the steps, then gave them each a
biscuit while she prepared their bread and milk. The ladies came home
from their Whist. Mrs. Borden had won the first prize and they were
talking as eagerly as boys over a baseball score. There was Jack,
dirty and tousled as any tramp.

"Wash him up Marilla and put him in some clean clothes or we'll be
late for dinner. Come, be quick, child."

That was the portion of the Cinderellas.

CHAPTER IX

THE LITTLE THORNS

They were all very glad to be home again. The house was so clean and
orderly and there were so many closets and drawers in which to pack
away things. Bridget had scoured and scrubbed and polished windows
largely to pass away time, for the people next door had been away as
well and the maids on a vacation earning money at seasides.

"Oh, I'm so glad to see you again!"

Marilla was hugging Bridget and her tone was full of delight.

"Ah, dear, an' it's glad enough I am to get ye back, but you've not
grown very fat an' rugged looking, but them babies do beat all!
They're quite ginteel one may say, an how they do run and talk! You'll
have your hands full, I'm thinkin', if they're goin' to copy Jack!"

"Oh, Bridget, they're real sweet, only they're noisy when your head's
tired. It sounds worse indoors. There was a big out of doors and
grass, and people passing and some children came in to play. But now
you have to look after them all the time."

"Marilla! Marilla!"

No, she could not waste her time in the chimney corner.

"Put on the babies' things and take them out walking, they'll drive me
crazy."

She walked them round to Loraine place. Would she dare call? Oh, how
her heart yearned to see them all again! but the blinds were drawn;
perhaps no one was at home.

Then as they were going down the street, just at the corner, a lady
and two girls about her size crossed. The lady and one of them l